Madam Speaker, there is a surplus of over $42 billion in the employment insurance fund. The federal government this year has only taken $8 billion to pay its debt and balance its budget on the backs of the working people. The working people have only taken $7.2 billion. The government could make a ruling to prolong benefits by an extra five weeks.
At the same time the government could turn around and have a plan to build houses and create jobs not only for people working in softwood lumber but in construction too. We can put people back to work in our own country if we want to.